Dead PC right

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Apr 2nd, 2002, 02:19 AM

Dead PC right

P III

Issues a "Verifying DMI pool data" message on a black screen in reboot ... doesn't even get to the disk recognise stage.....

Any thoughts ... beyond R.I.P....
Apr 2nd, 2002, 05:56 AM

Whats inside the box o' tricks?
Got a spare HD with an operating system on it?
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:02 AM

Nope...appears to be hitting BIOS startup...and well....is happy to display a black screen with the error message...
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:05 AM

And the BIOS is trying to start the machine up from the right IDE device? you're not trying to boot from the printer or something are you? ;)

What's inside it?
Apr 2nd, 2002, 07:18 AM

Try

1) resetting your BOIS
2) updating your BOIS
3) another HDD, or unplug all IDE devices

a few links
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q287/5/53.ASP

http://www.computing.net/os2/wwwboard/forum/964.html

http://www.maxtor.com/products/Diamo...ins/15007.html
Apr 2nd, 2002, 07:34 AM

I've had a similar problem - the IDE cable had somehow lost contact (even though it was still connected physically). Try to detect drives in the BIOS, if that doesn't find the drive(s) just un-plug all the cables and put them back again.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:18 AM
JungleMan

Check IDE connections.

Try another hard drive.

Reset the CMOS. Yep, one time my computer was dead cold wouldn't boot-- reset the CMOS, worked fine.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman
Check IDE connections.

3) another HDD, or unplug all IDE devices

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman
Try another hard drive.

3) another HDD, or unplug all IDE devices

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman
Reset the CMOS. Yep, one time my computer was dead cold wouldn't boot-- reset the CMOS, worked fine.

1) resetting your BOIS

;) :p
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:54 AM
JungleMan

10 bucks says you edited your post to make me look like an ass.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chenko

1) resetting your BOIS

your what??

;) :p
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:57 AM

20 bucks say i didnt
i edited my post to add the 3rd link

Quote:

Originally posted by Si_the_geek

your what??

;) :p

yea BIOS sorry :p
Apr 2nd, 2002, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman
10 bucks says you edited your post to make me look like an ass.

i edited it to get a 3rd link, i edited within the 2minute range thus not showing the "edited by..." tag
Apr 2nd, 2002, 10:23 AM

Jethro, when you start up does it hang on the verifying DMI? if so it hasn't even made it to the hard drives yet.... I would check for bad ram or incompatible ram.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 11:02 AM

So thats your
CMOS, BIOS, RAM, IDE cable, and drives....

Hell, at least your PSU and monitor work ;)
Apr 2nd, 2002, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scoutt
Jethro, when you start up does it hang on the verifying DMI? if so it hasn't even made it to the hard drives yet.... I would check for bad ram or incompatible ram.

Bad RAM usally gives beeps :)
Apr 2nd, 2002, 11:22 AM

nope, I had some that didn't. more than likely not bad ram but incompatible ram. some socket 7's had problems with the new DIMM modules. but not knowing what he has done or how old the computer really is.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 11:24 AM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
So thats your
CMOS, BIOS, RAM, IDE cable, and drives....

Hell, at least your PSU and monitor work ;)

And the keyboard :D
Apr 2nd, 2002, 12:41 PM

how would you know? not been in a situation to test the keyboard.

Just because it doesnt give an error, doesn't mean it works fine
Apr 2nd, 2002, 12:45 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
not been in a situation to test the keyboard.

Yeah he could enter the BIOS setup

I was just joking anyways
Apr 2nd, 2002, 12:47 PM

sorry, not enough smileys there to underline the humour of my last post :p
Apr 2nd, 2002, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman

Yeah he could enter the BIOS setup

I was just joking anyways

ok, I suppose we know the f5 key works ;)
Apr 2nd, 2002, 01:01 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
ok, I suppose we know the f5 key works ;)

Ohh you really just want to give me a hard time today do you. ;) :p
Apr 2nd, 2002, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman

Ohh I really just want to give you a hard one today do you. ;) :p

:eek:
Apr 2nd, 2002, 01:07 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
:eek:

No we can't be accused of chit-chatting in here:eek:
Apr 2nd, 2002, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scoutt
Jethro, when you start up does it hang on the verifying DMI? if so it hasn't even made it to the hard drives yet.... I would check for bad ram or incompatible ram.

Apparently the machine was going okay, (support desk call), then they had alsorts of problems so someone decided it would be a good idea to kick the PC in the guts....when they rebooted this problem came up. The site is approx 80 ks from our office, and feck if some one is gonna drive out their to do anything... have sent them to a hole in the wall shop...:D

We don't have the maintenance on the hardware, so at $250 an hour, would probably be cheaper for them to get a new rig...

Alot of good stuff to add to our knowledge base however.

Thanks for the replies....
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:02 PM

surely you can salvage enough bits that a whole new rig isn't necessary.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:16 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
surely you can salvage enough bits that a whole new rig isn't necessary.

My ASSUMPTION would be that everything is pretty much OK except the board and CPU. (Please don't start in again behemoth ;)) I don't see a reason why the drives, video card, NIC, case, etc are still not usable.

Of coruse if it's a Dell then some parts won't be usable
Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Behemoth
surely you can salvage enough bits that a whole new rig isn't necessary.

Surely would if it's my rig, but for the client the question is, will it be cheaper to buy a whole new box, or pay these guys while they repair the existing one...
Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:12 AM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Jethro

Surely would if it's my rig, but for the client the question is, will it be cheaper to buy a whole new box, or pay these guys while they repair the existing one...

Yeah, you have a good point there...

Life is good when you're computer literate isn't it ;)
Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman

Yeah, you have a good point there...

Life is good when you're computer literate isn't it ;)

LOL:D

The only point l made sure they got, was to get the old hard disk installed on the new machine, or at least transcribe to a new disk...
Apr 3rd, 2002, 12:37 AM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by Jethro

LOL:D

The only point l made sure they got, was to get the old hard disk installed on the new machine, or at least transcribe to a new disk...

Yep but they are gonna lose all that good hardware :( oh well :p
Apr 3rd, 2002, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman

Yep but they are gonna lose all that good hardware :( oh well :p

We can only hope it's a dell, they replaced the PC we sent them cause it went flacky, now this one has crashed.

Gee, guess they really should get some UPS equipment in there:rolleyes:

Have sent them a quote, but typical end user mentality l would imagine over that...